The Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on Friday, April 3, 2020, issued a cease and desist letter to Phoenix-based medical cannabis company YiLoLife, LLC, warning that some of its product advertisements posted online and at its YiLo Superstore retail outlet were in violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act (ACFA).
The letter specifically mentioned a product called Coronav Immunization Stabilizer Tincture that YiLoLife implied could aid in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
The ingredient of note in the Virus Killer Immunization Stabilizer is a chlorine dioxide solution consisting of sodium chlorite activated with a food-grade acid.
In online literature, the company stated that there is enough reason to believe that chlorine dioxide “can be very effective in stopping and preventing the current novel coronavirus going around today.”
AGO warned in the letter that violators of the ACFA may be subject to civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, disgorgement of profits, possible customer restitution, and liability for any expenses associated with the enforcement.
The letter set the compliance deadline at 5:00 p.m. on April 4 and ordered YiLoLife to deliver a written confirmation of compliance to the AGO by 5:00 p.m. on April 6.
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any product for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19,” states the letter. “In the absence of sufficient scientific evidence, an advertisement suggesting that a product could provide immunization against COVID-19 created a misrepresentation and a false promise of a medical preventative or cure.”
In anticipation of consumer fraud litigation, the letter informed YiLoLife, LLC that the company is to retain all written and electronic materials related to its sale or advertisement of products related to COVID-19.
According to a press release from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, YiLo has taken down a web page that instructed people on how to use the Coronav tincture if they contract a life-threatening virus.
The YiLo website currently displays an FDA disclosure disclaimer stating, “Any statements on this webpage have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always check with your physician before starting a new dietary supplement program.”
